‘Where there’s a will, there’s a way’: can Trudeau entrench his new Senate before the election?

By Peter MazereeuwFeb. 4, 2019

Sticking the changes in an omnibus budget bill would, once again, break a Liberal promise to stop that practice. It's also one of few ways the government could short-cut through another Senate study and packed legislative schedule.

Government House Leader Bardish Chagger and Government Senate Representative Peter Harder, centre, will be tasked with introducing and shepherding legislation to change the Parliament of Canada Act, which Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said he wants passed before the summer. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade, file photograph

The Liberal government may have to get its hands dirty if it wants to enshrine into law the new, multi-group dynamic in the Red Chamber before the next federal election.

Gerald Butts has removed himself from the daily political grind of strategizing how to keep the Liberals in power. But observers say it's unlikely he will be consigned to watch the campaign unfold from the sidelines.

SNC-Lavalin risks a takeover if it's convicted. But aside from likely outrage in Quebec, Ottawa can find other builders for its infrastructure plans if the company is banned from bidding on federal contracts, experts say

The Quebec company had extensive access to government ministers and top staffers, and was the only organization registered to lobby for allowing deferred prosecution agreements for white collar crimes.